Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1887-01-28
Merchants spreads, however, it was good
ST. PAUL, Jan. %, 1887.

ST. PAUL, JAM g, 1887.
The legislature is not in session to-day and
there is a sort of combined ice palace and
toboggan gloom resting on the city. We al
most need another cold wave to enliven us
while our friends are absent. Twas quite in
terested in meeting at the legislature yes
She is an educated lady, well advanced in
life and genuine philanth Opist in behalf
of her sex. She does not come under the
head of those who are slurringly styled
''strong minded" and does not ass or even
desire Suffrage or the holding of office by
her sex, but urges what she terms ''enanci-
patton of women" Her movement is the
result OF her own sad experience. AS she
tells her story she was the wife Of Il Calvan-
istic Presbyteria clergyman in Illinois
FAINT damnation, and because she did
not embrace that doctrine he had
her incarcerated in an insane asylum
where she remained for three years. All
her attempts and those of her friends to Sc
cure her release by a writ of habeas corpus,
were met by the courts with the statement
that as she was married woman she had
no legal existence and her husband in whom
her existence had been merged was the only
one who could ask such proceedings. The
law did not recognize her existence, her
identity being wholly submerged by becom-
and declared never to have been insane she
sought to secure the custody of her chill
dren and property but was met by the
courts with the statement that there was no
law to reach such a case and that before
any such proceedings could be taken she
lish her legal existence. While still a mar
ried woman she had no existenceuecognized
by law. In other words mistress has legal
rights which are denied wife. To remedy
this wrong is now her life work and this is
the bill she is asking the Minnesota legisla-
ture to pass
A bill to place married women on legal equal
ity with their husbands.
Be it enacted, etc.
Sec. l. That henceforth woman shall retain
the same legal existance and legal personality
after marriage as before marriage, and shall
| receive the same protection OF all her righta, as
a woman, which her husband does, as man;
and for any injury sustained to her reputation.
person, property, character, or any natural
right, she shall have the same right to appeal,
in her own name alone. to the courts of law or
equity, for redress and protection that the hus-
| band has to appeal in his own name alone: pro-
vided, this act shall not confer upon the wife q
right to vote or hold office, except as Is other
| wise provided by law.
She told me that she had already secured
| the passage of this law in twenty two states
and hoped to add Minnesota to the galaxy
| this winter. Her bill has been introduced
| in the Senate and favorably reported upon
| by the judiciary committee. though not
without considerable opposition. give
| publicity to this bill that the wives and
| mothers in Minnesota may have the in
formation, and if they wish, aid Mrs. Pack
ard in her work. It is scarcely my province
in these letters to advocate or oppose any
measures Of proposed legislation. but
rather to give the news ef the session.
Still, meeting this Intelligent, sincere lady
| postlv lah0rinp without fee reWa I'd to
right great legal wrong, cannot refrain
from giving her the benefit of this publicity
leaving it to the wives and mothers who
read these lines to determine whether she
shall have their cooperation or not. Such
cooperation may not be necessary to place
! such law on the Minnesota statute book
but it will do no harm to give it, and it will
encourage her to continue her work until In
every. State and territory in the Union
married women secure a Illegal existence. .